10 Ridiculous Refereeing Decisions That Almost Ruined Football

2. Gottfried Dienst and Tofik Bakhramov (England vs. Germany, 1966)

http://youtu.be/0Uhe_l1h3w8 When discussing refereeing controversy in matches between England and Germany however, the World Cup final of 1966 provided a moment of contention that has persisted among football fans for all eternity. This is arguably the most debatable moment in the history of football, and unlike any moment previously stated on this list, there is still no definitive answer as to what the correct decision should have been. Unless, you are German, in which case the decision was atrocious, or your English, where the decision is the single most spectacular piece of refereeing ever witnessed. With the score 2-2 in extra time in a closely fought contest between England and Germany, Geoff Hurst received a low cross into the box, turned and hit a powerful shot that cannoned off of the German crossbar, onto the line, and out of play. And unlike Lampard's effort earlier, the ball was not very clearly over the line, and just as likely just bounced onto the line itself. Technology even to this day has reviewed this moment, and it is still unclear as to what the correct decision should have been. Nevertheless, the one person who seemed to have complete certainty of the correct decision was fortunately present as the linesman that day, and Tofik Bakhramov decreed that the goal was scored and England went on to win the World Cup for the one and only time in their history 4-2. The discretion of Bakhramov will continually bring about arguments, as he could have so easily ruled the goal out, and it would still appear to be as correct a decision as allowing the goal. In the end, as an English football fan, Bakhramov was an unlikely twelfth man for England that day, and his split-second decision was the determining factor in one of the most important games on the footballing calendar.